[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 103 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 103

 Recognizing the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Minority 
                            AIDS Initiative.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 24 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

 Mrs. Clinton submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Minority 
                            AIDS Initiative.

Whereas the Minority AIDS Initiative was established on October 28, 1998, under 
        the leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus, during the 
        chairmanship of Representative Maxine Waters, to target funds for the 
        awareness, prevention, testing, and treatment of human immunodeficiency 
        virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) toward racial 
        and ethnic minority communities and toward community-based organizations 
        and health care providers serving these communities;
Whereas HIV/AIDS is a devastating epidemic that continues to grow in communities 
        throughout the United States;
Whereas there are more than 1,000,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the United 
        States today;
Whereas there are more than 14,000 AIDS-related deaths every year in the United 
        States;
Whereas approximately 1 in 4 of the people living with HIV/AIDS in the United 
        States do not know they are infected;
Whereas all racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately impacted by HIV/
        AIDS;
Whereas African-Americans account for about \1/2\ of new AIDS cases, although 
        approximately 13 percent of the population as a whole is Black, and the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that African-
        Americans accounted for 45 percent of new HIV infections in 2006;
Whereas Hispanic-Americans account for 19 percent of new AIDS cases, although 
        only 15 percent of the population as a whole is Hispanic, and the CDC 
        estimates that Hispanic-Americans accounted for 17 percent of new HIV 
        infections in 2006;
Whereas Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders account for 1 percent of new AIDS 
        cases, and Native Americans and Alaska Natives account for up to 1 
        percent of new AIDS cases;
Whereas approximately 70 percent of new AIDS cases are racial and ethnic 
        minorities;
Whereas, in 2008, the CDC released new estimates of HIV infection, which 
        indicate that approximately 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the 
        United States in 2006;
Whereas these new estimates are approximately 40 percent higher than the CDC's 
        previous estimates of 40,000 new infections per year;
Whereas the CDC's data confirms that the most severe impact of HIV/AIDS 
        continues to be among gay and bisexual men of all races, and Black men 
        and women;
Whereas the purpose of the Minority AIDS Initiative is to enable community-based 
        organizations and health care providers in minority communities to 
        improve their capacity to deliver culturally and linguistically 
        appropriate HIV/AIDS care and services;
Whereas the establishment of the Minority AIDS Initiative was announced on 
        October 28, 1998, during a ``roll-out'' event sponsored by the 
        Congressional Black Caucus, which featured the participation of 
        President Bill Clinton, Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna 
        Shalala, Representative Maxine Waters, members of the Congressional 
        Black Caucus, and representatives of HIV/AIDS service and advocacy 
        organizations;
Whereas it was announced at this roll-out that the Minority AIDS Initiative 
        would receive an initial appropriation of $156,000,000 in fiscal year 
        1999;
Whereas concerned Members of Congress, including members of the Congressional 
        Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Asian 
        Pacific American Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Conference, 
        continue to support the Minority AIDS Initiative;
Whereas the Minority AIDS Initiative continues to provide funding to community-
        based organizations, research institutions, minority-serving colleges 
        and universities, health care organizations, State and local health 
        departments, correctional institutions, and other providers of health 
        information and services to help such entities address the HIV/AIDS 
        epidemic within the minority populations they serve;
Whereas Congress codified the Minority AIDS Initiative within the most recent 
        reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act;
Whereas the Minority AIDS Initiative fills gaps in HIV/AIDS outreach, awareness, 
        prevention, treatment, surveillance, and infrastructure across 
        communities of color; and
Whereas, October 28, 2008, is the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the 
        Minority AIDS Initiative: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes and commemorates the 10th anniversary of the 
        establishment of the Minority AIDS Initiative;
            (2) commends the efforts of community-based organizations 
        and health care providers in minority communities to deliver 
        culturally and linguistically appropriate human 
        immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome 
        (HIV/AIDS) care and services within the minority populations 
        they serve;
            (3) encourages racial and ethnic minorities to educate 
        themselves about the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and 
        reduce the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS; and
            (4) supports the continued funding of the Minority AIDS 
        Initiative and other Federal programs to stop the spread of 
        HIV/AIDS and to provide effective, compassionate treatment and 
        care to individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.
                                 <all>